Dudley

The religious profile of Dudley changed substantially in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census show there were changes in housing tenure, health and ethnicity.

The population passed 310,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Dudley increased by 2.6%, from about 305,000 to 313,000.

The addition of almost 7,800 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Dudley was home to, on average, 23 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

More people cohabiting

Census 2011 data also show a change in family life for many in Dudley.

The percentage of households in Dudley, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.8% in 2001 to 10% in 2011.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households had only a single person, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage of households in Dudley, which comprised a married couple (with or without children), decreased from 42% to 36%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.9% in 2001 to 9.6% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Dudley increased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Dudley, the West Midlands and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

This area saw the West Midlands' second-largest fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

Across the region, only Wyre Forest saw a greater fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 11% to 10%).

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) households in Dudley had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 30% to 30%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

This area saw the West Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

Across the region, only Cannock Chase (from 2.5% to 3.2%) and Wyre Forest (from 2.0% to 2.7%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, as the regional average grew from 2.3% to 2.7%.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) in Dudley reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.4% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.4% to 1.7%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Dudley remained close to 3.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Dudley by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Dudley

The number of people in Dudley that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 33,000 in 2001 to about 69,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 11% to 22% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the West Midlands (from 12% to 22%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Dudley that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 240,000 in 2001 to about 200,000 in 2011 (from 78% to 65%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just under 23,000 to about 20,000 (from 7.4% to 6.2%).

Just under 13,000 people (2.5%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 7,500 in 2001 (4.1%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Dudley increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Dudley by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Dudley that rented privately increased from 4.1% to 9.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in five (20%) households lived in social housing, compared with 22% in 2001. The percentage of Dudley households that owner their home decreased from 71% to 69%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 14% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Dudley increased by 5.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Dudley, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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